The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-12

1t has been suggested By Mr.. Noble. OF Colum-
bus, and several citizens of Chillicothe that
some effort be made to get o portrait Of James
Ross by the county which was named for
him.
james Ross was born in York County, ,Pa. in
1862. Hc was educated ut Pequa by the Rev. DR..
Robert Smith. and studied law under John D.
Coke. learned judge, of Philadelphia. In his
professional career there were two incidents
that gave Mr. Ross distinction. Tho first was
his voluntary interference in behalf of some ne
grocs, whose claims to freedom no advocated
with such ,orcefu eloquenco that the liberty of
his black clients was secured. For his success
in this case he received vote OF thanks from
the abolition Society,""
Tho other circumstances of note was his up.
pointment by the Legislature Us one OF the
counsel OF the State to support its claims
to the Springetsburg manor, In the circuit
court OF the United States. This was task
which required the highest cxertions OF the
mind; and he accomplished It in o most credita.
BILE way.
In the debates in the convention which framed
the constitution, in lsS9 he took active part,
and though he was opposed by some of the
ablest men Of the day, his record in that body
was u particularly fnc ono. The last distin-
guished public service that James Ross render.
ed his country wns rs n member Of Congress-
when he bore u leading part In the debate over
the acquisition Of Louisiana
Before the cession of Louisiana to the United
States we claimed the right to the free use Of
the Mississippi river, and to q place OF deposit
near New Orleans for cargoes.
BY the treaty Of peace England ccdcd, In
1881 concurrent right to the navigation Of the
river tO the United States; and by the Spanish
treaty which Thomas Pinckney had negotiated
1t was agreed that this country and Spain should
enjoy the right to tho Mississippi river to the
exclusion of Great Britain. But in 1870. our rights
tho Opap1v yiO ad n
Spain, and the country was intensely excited
over the matter. Tho people OF Kentucky, Ohio
and the so-called Mississippi territory, consid
cring their very existence ut stake, were not
willing to wait for President Jefferson to nego
tiate treaty. 1t was felt in the West that the
new States had been abandoned by the General
Government, and there was powerful senti
ment that demanded an appeal to arms.
Senator James Ross crystalized and express
ed this war feeling in the Senate Of the United
Stutes. He wanted the President to take pos
session OF New Orleans and to dispatch troops
there ut once. He made u number Of strong
speeches, and in replying to Mr.. Clinton of New
York, who was arguing that Washingtons I'D
ministration advocated peace policy, he said
''The name OF Washington is introduced TO ST.
1ence all future dispute on this question. Sir
reverence the authority OF that great mans
Official conduct. He was the father OF his coun
try, the terror Of his enemies, and the ornament
the heroes and sages Of other times and nations
in happier world; but it was easily foreseer
that those who seldom agreed with him In his life
would be the first after his death, to fly iol
shelter to his example when Overtaken by Gu
lamity or misfortune"
In the same speech, referring to Washington.
action respecting the scheming French Minister
Genet he said: 1.-THE French Minister increas
cd In activity and boldncss OF enterprise. HI
set the President ut defiance and threatened al
appeal to the people. AT that awful crisis Wash
ington came forward Moses like, and put him
self in the gup between the pestilcnce and thu
people,"
Mr.. Ross was not able to accomplish his pur
pose. War was not declared, md the whole
matter was finally settled by tho purchase o
Louisiana. In 1909 and In 1909 Mr.. Ross was
candidate for the ofice Of Governor OF Penn
sylvanu, and IL was owing to his great proni
ncncc in the East that Ross County was namet
in his honor by its early citizens, many OF whom
came from Pennsylvania.
Much OF tho interesting history OF Chilli
Gothic and OF the Scioto Valley has never bcei
committed to print, and must be gathered from
the lips OF those who have witnessed the hap
penings OF which they speak or whs have ha,
the stories from competent sources. There
no one In Chillicothe who has richer FUND o
"reminiscences than DR.. Wadde, one OF tho oldes
v,rft fieiuV nj N q n IA